On Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:48:15 +0000, Wayne Throop wrote:
> :: Seems someone hasn't read the words of Patrick Henry: "Give me
> :: liberty, or give me death!"
>
> : John Schilling <schillin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> : This may surprise you, but not everybody who reads those words,
actually
> : agrees to them. And almost nobody who agrees with them in principle,
> : actually puts them into practice.
>
> Give me liberty, or give me... um... enough time
> to figure out how to get my liberty back.
Wasn't Patrick Henry the one that later got the Virginia Legislature to
hold a secret session in which he proposed that Virginia surrender to
Britain first so as to get the best terms?
--
[Congress] can make no law which will not have its full operation on
themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the
society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by
which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It
creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of
sentiments of which few governments have furnished examples; but
without which any government degenerates into tyranny. If it be
asked, what is to restrain [Congress] from making legal discriminations
in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I
answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and
constitutional laws; and, above all, the vigilant and manly spirit
which actuates the people of America--a spirit which nourishes
freedom, and in return is nourished by it.
If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not
obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people
will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty.
< _The Federalist Papers_, No. 57
|
